Chapter 2
Outside the door, Grace took a step back. Her high heels sank silently into the carpet, muffling every sound of her retreat.
It was clearly summer, yet a chill crept over her whole body.
She convinced herself it was just the air conditioning, not the pain of betrayal. But if that were the case, why did her heart hurt so much?
At age ten, her mother, Serena Langford, used her own death to teach her that love and marriage were unreliable. She warned her to never trust a man easily or place her hopes in one.
During her years living abroad, Grace transformed from a pampered girl into a strong, independent woman. She vowed to reclaim her rightful shares and Serena’s wedding gift. She armored herself with cold indifference and fought to grow stronger.
Even knowing that the task Callum had given her was nearly impossible, she still steeled herself. She would deliver results, win Callum’s vote, and secure her place in the Harper Group.
Zane’s arrival felt like a warm ray of sunlight, opening her heart after years of being closed off. She knew she had to enter a marriage eventually, so she preferred to choose Zane, who genuinely loved her.
What she thought was a perfect match was actually a well-planned lie. His actions were just a youthful bet, a game.
Her cold, elegant beauty sparked an irresistible desire to conquer in men. She should have recognized that.
He was born into privilege and surrounded by beauty. With someone like him, there was no way he would fall in love at first sight.
Grace’s heart throbbed with an agonizing ache. Her own foolishness in ignoring Serena’s warning had led her to this miserable situation.
She gazed at the simple ring in the velvet box. At that moment, she had truly imagined marrying him and spending her life with him.
She sat in a dark corner, downing one glass of liquor after another. Then, she saw Zane wrapping his arm around that escort as they stepped into the elevator. There were rooms upstairs.
That explained where he disappeared to on those nights he claimed to be watching the game with friends. He was actually indulging in the thrilling pleasures found in places like this.
Indeed, he was a scion and could have any woman he wanted. Since she refused to do certain things, there was always someone else ready to take her place. A man like him would never settle for less.
She usually handled her alcohol well due to years of social drinking, but tonight she was really drunk. As she stumbled unsteadily, each step became increasingly wobbly until she toppled forward. Surprisingly, the pain she anticipated never arrived.
A powerful hand gripped her delicate waist just in the nick of time. Her head collided against a solid chest, the force intensifying her dizziness.
“Are you okay?” a deep, captivating man’s voice whispered in her ear.
Grace lifted her gaze, her eyesight blurred, and encountered a pair of striking eyes. The man before her wore a perfectly tailored suit, his features strikingly sharp. A menacing glimmer in his stare sent an unsettling chill racing down her spine.
Perhaps it was merely her imagination, but he bore a slight resemblance to Zane. Yet, their temperaments were very different. One was calm and composed, while the other was charming, full of confidence and energy.
The image of Zane striding away with that escort surged back into her mind, igniting a spark of revenge within her. She smiled. “Sir, do you have a girlfriend?”
She had no idea how much she’d drunk tonight, nor how much sense she had left. All she remembered was the man’s eyes examining her before he replied in a low voice, “No.”
She leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a dazzling smile. “Well, now you do.”
Her beauty was captivating in itself, but when she smiled, she radiated pure temptation. This irresistible charm kept Zane pursuing her for three years without letting go. She had the power to make a man lose control.
“Are you referring to yourself?” The man’s gaze dropped, deep and unreadable.
If she were sober, she would’ve instinctively kept her distance from someone this dangerous. Yet, under the influence of alcohol, she found the courage to challenge him. “I’m making an offer. Do you want me or not?”
She was done with love. Zane had always pushed her to sleep with him willingly. Undoubtedly, he was about to lose this bet.
The night was a blur of neon lights and intoxicating indulgence, filled with every kind of vice and temptation. In a world like this, intimacy between a man and a woman often needed no more than a glance.
The man standing before her, both in appearance and physique, greatly outshone Zane. She certainly wasn’t missing out.
She pulled on his hand, eager to go upstairs. If Zane could venture to places like this, she could too.
But the man stopped in his tracks. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
Afterward, she was led into a car and taken to a hotel.
She could barely stand by the time they were in the elevator. Seeing this, the man wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace. The crisp scent of pine filled her nose, soothing her somewhat.
He brought her to a luxurious suite. Meeting her unfocused gaze, he pointed to the slightly ajar door. “If you regret this, it’s still not too late to leave.”
Grace tiptoed, whispering against his ear. “Sir, don’t tell me you can’t perform?”
He slammed the door shut and quickly picked her up, his breath warm against her ear. “You’ve lost your chance to back out.”
He laid her down on the bed, fingers deftly loosening his tie. The usually composed, elegant man seemed suddenly wild as he unbuttoned his collar, a roguish edge creeping in. He looked at her with a possessive, intense, and predatory gaze.
Suddenly, Grace became nervous. “I… I’ll take a shower first.”
But the man climbed onto the bed, one knee pressing into the mattress as he loomed over her, caging her in. He lowered himself slowly, voice deep and commanding. “After we’re done.”
Her delicate feet pushed against the soft covers, a flicker of reason urging her to back out. She instinctively tried to retreat, her fingers pressing against his chest.
However, he hooked a finger under her chin, raising her face to meet his intense, smoldering gaze.
“Why don’t you find out just how capable I am?” he murmured, his voice thick with temptation.
She was the one who sparked the desire. Naturally, she had to be the one to put it out.
Grace felt like she had completely lost her mind. What she had guarded for three years with Zane, she had given away so easily to a complete stranger.
The velvet box slipped from her palm onto the bed. The man picked it up and opened it to reveal the men’s ring she had held tightly all along.
Without hesitation, he took it out and slid it onto his middle finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for him.
“Not bad,” he said, glancing down at the ring. It was identical to the one on Grace’s finger.
Grace grew flustered and quickly reached out to snatch it back. “Give it back…”
But his kiss cut her off without warning. The hand wearing the matching ring clasped hers, fingers threading between hers as he pinned her arms above her head.
His kiss was rough and dominating, stealing every breath from her lips. Clothes fell one by one onto the carpet, his shirt draping over her lace lingerie.
The room was soon filled with nothing but the heat of their entanglement…
